No. 07
Walking Trail
Boardman Lake Trail
Traverse City · Downtown
A 4.2-mile paved loop that wraps around Boardman Lake just south of downtown — the kind of walk that sneaks up on you. You start thinking you're doing a quick lap and end up 90 minutes in, having crossed two bridges over the river, walked a long boardwalk over the lake cove, and passed through a stretch of dense woods that makes you forget the city is right there. Finished in 2022 after years of planning, locals call it the BLT and it's become the crown jewel of TC's trail network.
DifficultyEasy — fully paved, flat, stroller and dog friendly
Don't MissThe long boardwalk over the lake cove at the southern end — great views, benches along the way.
Insider TipRight Brain Brewery sits right off the trail at 14th Street. Make it a stop.
No. 06
Beach
Clinch Park Beach
West Grand Traverse Bay · Downtown Traverse City
1,500 feet of sandy beach right in the heart of downtown TC, with West Grand Traverse Bay stretching out in front of you. This is the city beach — lively, accessible, and loaded with options. Kayaks, paddleboards, and bikes are available to rent on site from Paddle TC. There's a splash pad for younger kids, a snack bar, volleyball, and lifeguards on duty in summer. It's not a secluded escape, but it's a perfect afternoon when you want everything in one place with the whole town right behind you.
What to BringJust yourselves — everything else (rentals, food, facilities) is already there
Don't MissRenting a paddleboard and getting out on West Bay. The view of TC from the water is worth it.
Insider TipSkip swimming here 24–36 hours after heavy rain — Boardman River runoff affects water quality.
No. 05
Walking Trail
Empire Bluff Trail
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore · Empire
At 1.5 miles out and back, Empire Bluff is the most rewarding short walk in the park — maybe in the state. The trail winds through beech-maple forest and opens onto an observation deck 400 feet above Lake Michigan, with Sleeping Bear Dunes, South Bar Lake, and the village of Empire spread across the horizon. The photograph taken from this overlook is what convinced Good Morning America to name Sleeping Bear the most beautiful place in America. Those photographers weren't wrong.
DifficultyEasy to moderate — short, a few gentle inclines and stairs, families welcome
Don't MissThe first overlook three-quarters of the way up — it previews the main view and is almost as good.
Insider TipThe parking lot is small and fills fast. Arrive before 9am in summer or you'll be parking on the road.
No. 04
Beach
Van's Beach
Lake Michigan · Leland
We've been going here our whole lives — a beautiful Lake Michigan beach that's a five-minute walk from Fishtown, one of the best little waterfront villages in Michigan. Swim, then walk over for smoked whitefish from Carlson's Fishery or a grilled cheese from the Village Cheese Shanty on the docks. The beach is also known for Leland Blue stones — a rare blue slag glass unique to this stretch of shoreline, left behind by an 1800s iron smelting operation. You'll spend more time looking down than you expect.
What to BringA bag for rock hunting — Leland Blues are real and worth finding
Don't MissCarlson's smoked whitefish dip in Fishtown after. Non-negotiable.
Insider TipOnly about 20 parking spots. Get there before 10am on summer weekends.
No. 03
Hike
Pyramid Point
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore · Leelanau Peninsula
A 2.7-mile loop through old beech-maple forest to a 300-foot bluff overlooking Lake Michigan and both Manitou Islands — and almost no one knows about it. When the Dune Climb is packed wall to wall in July, Pyramid Point is often completely quiet. The overlook is only 0.6 miles from the trailhead, making it the best view-per-effort ratio in the entire park. In the 1970s it was a popular hang gliding launch point — the updrafts off the bluff are that strong and that reliable.
DifficultyModerate — steep climb to the overlook, sandy sections on the full loop
Don't MissDon't miss this hike through the old-growth forest if you're here in the fall.
Insider TipGo at sunset. You're facing west over Lake Michigan.
